The Imperial Palace, Royal Garden.
Liu Che was in an exceptionally foul mood today. he wore a thunderous face at everyone he saw, his imperial wrath blazing; the palace maids and eunuchs trembled in fear, scarcely daring to breathe.
Emperors were like that—every year had three hundred and sixty-five days when they were in a bad mood.
Before long, Empress Jiang Wang arrived upon hearing the news. Seeing Liu Che sitting alone and sulking, she waved away the attendants and gathered him into her arms as though soothing a child. "Why is Your Majesty so upset? Did that True Heart Dao senior brother bring you bad luck?"
There was a trace of disdain in Jiang Wang's words. She had said long ago that True Heart Dao was the best at messing with people's heads, but he simply would not listen and insisted on going to him. Well, there it was—he had gone and made himself unhappy.
The husband and wife were deeply devoted to each other. Liu Che lay against Jiang Wang's chest and said in a muffled voice, "I wished to appoint him Grand General, but he refused."
"Your Majesty, that's a good thing!" Jiang Wang said, puzzled.
"..."
Judging solely by Xiang Yuan's True Heart Dao background, his political vetting carried a massive stain. It really was a good thing.
But if Northern Qi could not make use of him, while Western Chu did—and used him while saying, "Your Northern Qi cultivators are so useful. His Majesty's senior brother is so capable"—then that was another matter entirely.
There was some serious cuckolding at play here!
Liu Che felt he had been cuckolded. And he had to admit that Jiang Wang was right: True Heart Dao really had a knack for messing with people's heads.
To make a long